The National Association of Broadcasters has cancelled its annual Las Vegas convention, one of the largest annual trade shows in the United States, because of an increase in cases of the Covid-19 Delta variant.

The NAB show typically attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world. In 2019 it drew around 91,000 attendees.

In 2020, it took place virtually as a result of Covid. It was to have been held as an in-person event this year on 9-13 October. But with infection rates remaining high, the organisers felt it was impossible to proceed.

Gordon Smith, who has headed the NAB since 2009, said he regretted the cancellation.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that we will not be holding the NAB Show in person this year as originally planned,” he said.

“It turns out that we will not be able to offer the NAB show experience 2021 that our industry is now expecting or that meets the high standards that we set ourselves.”

NAB 2022 is scheduled for 23-27 April.